Forehand and Backhand Groundstrokes: Articles, Videos, FAQs, Tips
Learn and improve your forehand and backhand groundstrokes through articles, free video lessons, FAQs, and tips. Correct problems with your strokes and develop stronger topspin, backspin, and sidespin slice.
Photo Study of the Rafael Nadal Backhand
Photos of Rafael Nadal hitting backhands illustrate mini tennis lessons on how to hit a two-handed backhand.
Photos of Rafael Nadal hitting backhands illustrate mini tennis lessons on how to hit a two-handed backhand.
Photo Lesson: Hitting the Forehand on the Rise
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the forehand on the rise.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the forehand on the rise.
Photo Study of the Roger Federer Forehand
Photos of Roger Federer hitting forehands illustrate mini tennis lessons on how to hit a great forehand.
Photos of Roger Federer hitting forehands illustrate mini tennis lessons on how to hit a great forehand.
Photo Lesson: The Basic Eastern Forehand
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic Eastern forehand.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic Eastern forehand.
Photo Lesson: The Basic Two-Handed Backhand
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic two-handed backhand.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic two-handed backhand.
Photo Lesson: The Basic One-Handed Backhand
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic one-handed backhand.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the basic one-handed backhand.
Groundstroke Quiz
Test your knowledge of forehands and backhands.
Test your knowledge of forehands and backhands.
Photo Tour of the Forehand Grips
Close-up photos of each major forehand grip, with comments on strengths and weaknesses.
Close-up photos of each major forehand grip, with comments on strengths and weaknesses.
Photo Tour of the One-Handed Backhand Grips - Eastern Continental and Western
Close-up photos of the Full Eastern, Modified Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments on their strengths and weaknesses for topspin, slice, and flat backhands.
Close-up photos of the Full Eastern, Modified Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments on their strengths and weaknesses for topspin, slice, and flat backhands.
Photo Tour of the Two-Handed Backhand Grips for Tennis
Close-up photos of the most common two-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments.
Close-up photos of the most common two-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments.
Photo Lesson: The Inside-Out Forehand
Stop-action photos illustrate this free tennis lesson on how to hit the inside-out forehand.
Stop-action photos illustrate this free tennis lesson on how to hit the inside-out forehand.
Photo Tennis Lesson - The Semi-Open Semi-Western Forehand
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the semi-open, semi-western forehand.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the semi-open, semi-western forehand.
Photo Tennis Lesson: Hitting the Two-Handed Backhand on the Rise
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the two-handed backhand on the rise.
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the two-handed backhand on the rise.
Forehand FAQ
Answers to questions on grips, stances, spins, and wrist motion.
Answers to questions on grips, stances, spins, and wrist motion.
Backhand FAQ
Answers to questions on grips, stances, spins, and one versus two hands.
Answers to questions on grips, stances, spins, and one versus two hands.
Basic Eastern Forehand Video with Analysis
Video clip of a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
One-Handed Topspin Backhand on Low Ball - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a classic topspin backhand on a low ball, using an Eastern backhand grip, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a classic topspin backhand on a low ball, using an Eastern backhand grip, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Running One-Handed Backhand on a Short Ball - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a running one-handed backhand on a short ball, with instructional comments on strategic context, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
Video clip of a running one-handed backhand on a short ball, with instructional comments on strategic context, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
Photo Lesson: The One-Handed Backhand Topspin Lob
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the one-handed backhand topspin lob in tennis.
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the one-handed backhand topspin lob in tennis.
Photo Lesson: The One-Handed Backhand Sidespin Slice
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the one-handed backhand sidespin slice in tennis.
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the one-handed backhand sidespin slice in tennis.
Forehand Approach Shot - Tennis Video Lesson
Full-speed and slow-motion videos illustrate this free tennis lesson on how to hit the forehand approach shot.
Full-speed and slow-motion videos illustrate this free tennis lesson on how to hit the forehand approach shot.
How to Hit the Forehand Topspin Lob in Tennis - Photo Step-by-Step Lesson
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the forehand topspin lob in tennis.
Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the forehand topspin lob in tennis.
Photo Study of the Points of Contact and Stances for Five Forehand Styles in Tennis
Photos illustrate this comparison of the ideal points of contact and stances for the Eastern, Semi-Western, Western, Continental, and Hawaiian forehand styles.
Photos illustrate this comparison of the ideal points of contact and stances for the Eastern, Semi-Western, Western, Continental, and Hawaiian forehand styles.
Photo Study of the Points of Contact for Four One-Handed Backhand Styles in Tennis
Photos illustrate this comparison of the ideal points of contact for the Modified Eastern, Full Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand styles.
Photos illustrate this comparison of the ideal points of contact for the Modified Eastern, Full Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand styles.
One-Handed Backhand On the Rise - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed backhand on the rise, with instructional comments on strategic advantages, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
Video clip of a one-handed backhand on the rise, with instructional comments on strategic advantages, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
Tennis Return of Serve FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Service Returns and Mental and Physical Techniques for Returning Serves
Mental and physical service return techniques, including adjustments in your backswing and spin, that you can use to return hard, kick, and slice serves.
Mental and physical service return techniques, including adjustments in your backswing and spin, that you can use to return hard, kick, and slice serves.
Evolution of Pro Forehand Grips in Tennis
Contemporary forehand grips have changed tennis.
Contemporary forehand grips have changed tennis.
Backhand Repair - Tennis
How to fix problems with your backhand in tennis.
How to fix problems with your backhand in tennis.
Forehand Repair - Fixing Problems with Your Forehand in Tennis
How to fix problems with your forehand in tennis: adjusting your forehand grip, swing, stance, and timing to hit better forehands.
How to fix problems with your forehand in tennis: adjusting your forehand grip, swing, stance, and timing to hit better forehands.
Simple Guide to Forehand Grips in Tennis
An easy way to compare the Continental, Eastern, Western, and Semi-Western forehand grips for tennis.
An easy way to compare the Continental, Eastern, Western, and Semi-Western forehand grips for tennis.
Comparison of Backhand Grips in Tennis
Understanding the Continental, Eastern, Western, and two-handed backhand grips for tennis.
Understanding the Continental, Eastern, Western, and two-handed backhand grips for tennis.
Classic Versus Western Forehand in Tennis
These two forehand stroking styles are quite different, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages in tennis.
These two forehand stroking styles are quite different, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages in tennis.
Sidespin Slice Backhand - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed sidespin slice backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a one-handed sidespin slice backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Basic Two-Handed Backhand - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of a basic two-handed backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a basic two-handed backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
One-Handed Topspin Backhand with Run - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a one-handed topspin backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
Video clip of running to, then hitting a one-handed topspin backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
Slice Backhand - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed slice backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a one-handed slice backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Slice Forehand Drive - Tennis Video and Analysis
Video clip of a slice forehand drive, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Video clip of a slice forehand drive, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
Super Tennis Shots - High Deep Topspin
How to produce a high, deep topspin that will draw errors or short balls from your opponent in tennis.
How to produce a high, deep topspin that will draw errors or short balls from your opponent in tennis.
Attacking the One-Handed Backhand
Tactics that work well against one-handed backhands.
Tactics that work well against one-handed backhands.
Eastern Topspin Forehand with Run - Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
Video clip of running to, then hitting a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
Extreme Crosscourt Eastern Forehand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a crosscourt topspin eastern forehand with a same-side follow-through, and instructional comments on the swing path and balance used for this somewhat rarer stroke.
Video clip of running to, then hitting a crosscourt topspin eastern forehand with a same-side follow-through, and instructional comments on the swing path and balance used for this somewhat rarer stroke.
How To Improve Your Topspin With a Solo Game
A simple how to on a fun, easy, solo game that will improve your topspin.
A simple how to on a fun, easy, solo game that will improve your topspin.
How to Beat a Two-Hander
Tactics that work well against two-handed backhands.
Tactics that work well against two-handed backhands.
Super Shots: Slice Backhand
Strategic uses and hitting techniques for the one-handed slice backhand.
Strategic uses and hitting techniques for the one-handed slice backhand.
Why and How to Hit on the Rise
Hitting on the rise gives you several advantages in tennis, but your timing, positioning, and point of contact with the ball must all be more precise.
Hitting on the rise gives you several advantages in tennis, but your timing, positioning, and point of contact with the ball must all be more precise.